Many drivers unaware of speed limit

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - When you load your family into your car, your top priority is to keep them safe. The problem is you can't ever control what other drivers do behind the wheel.

So, First Coast News is first for you with a new attempt to try and get speeders to slow down. We're calling it To Catch a Speeder, and we're focusing on areas viewers tell us need attention.

Our first tip came from the Argyle Forest area at the intersection of Collins and Rampart Roads.

Bill Lewis with the Argyle Area Civic Council told First Coast News a driver struck and killed a boy riding his bike. He believes the area's speed limits are inconsistent. Viewers also told us drivers zip through the intersection going well over the 35 mph speed limit.

Our radar gun caught drivers going as fast as 51 and 53 mph. But instead of just watching them go by, we stopped them to find out why they're speeding.

Many claimed they didn't realize they were driving too fast. Others said they thought the speed limit was 40 or 45 mph.

"Do you know what the speed limit is here?" asked First Coast News reporter Jacob Long.

"No," one driver remarked.

Drivers also told us they were in a hurry and didn't have time to obey the law. Long asked one driver, "Where you headed?"

"Work, and I'm running late," a driver responded.

The good news, though, is almost all of the drivers we stopped admitted to speeding and said they would try to slow down.

"I'm going to slow down," one driver confessed after First Coast News confronted him. After all, the next time someone stops you for speeding, it might not just be a friendly reminder.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said it wrote one speeding ticket at Rampart & Collins Roads in the past year. If you think more needs to be done about speeding in the area, here are some resources. The Sheriff's Office's patrol division considers the area zone four for traffic enforcement. There is a substation at 3726 Blanding Boulevard. The person in charge there is Asst. Chief Pat Ivey, and his number is 573-3165.

You can also alert your city council members. The area is mostly represented by Jim Love, district 14, Doyle Carter, district 12 and Kimberly Daniels, at-large group one.

There's also a group called Argyle Civic Council that meets regularly to discuss neighborhood issues. Its website says the president is Bill Lewis and lists his phone number as 813-9455.

If all else fails, you can contact First Coast News at news@firstcoastnews.com. We're also on Facebook at First Coast Newsand Twitter at @fcn2go.